The Nokia X10 and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, they diverge significantly in their internal hardware and feature sets. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G emerges as the superior choice. Its more powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset, brighter display reaching 787 nits, and faster 25W charging provide a noticeably smoother and more enjoyable user experience, justifying its typically higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 31, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | Splash protection | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 08 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 07 | Available. Released 2021, March 19 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 168.9 x 79.7 x 9.1 mm (6.65 x 3.14 x 0.36 in) | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Zeiss optics, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4470 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Forest, Snow | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | TA-1350, TA-1332 | SM-A526B, SM-A526B/DS, SM-A5260, SM-A526W, SM-A526U, SM-A526U1 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | $ 137.39 / £ 280.00 / € 115.49 |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.51 W/kg (head) 1.29 W/kg (body) | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 111h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 334981 (v8), 386474 (v9)
GeekBench: 1820 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Nokia X10
- Clean Android experience
- More affordable price point
- 5G connectivity
- Less powerful processor
- Likely lower display brightness
- Slower charging speed
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 750G
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster 25W charging
- Typically higher price
- Samsung’s One UI software (preference-based)
- Potential for bloatware
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 787 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a scenario where the Nokia X10’s display specifications are not available for comparison, but likely falls short. While the A52 5G’s contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite (nominal)', this is typical of AMOLED panels and suggests deeper blacks and more vivid colors. The lack of detailed display specs for the Nokia X10 makes a precise comparison difficult, but the A52 5G’s brightness alone is a compelling differentiator.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Nokia X10. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise and potentially a larger main sensor (though specifics are unavailable). The A52 5G’s camera system is likely to deliver more consistent results across various lighting conditions. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A52 5G, if present, would further enhance image quality, particularly in low light. The Nokia X10’s camera system is likely more basic, catering to casual photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Nokia X10 utilizes the Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G, while the A52 5G features the SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G. Both are 8nm chips, but the 750G’s Kryo 570 cores (2x2.2 GHz & 6x1.8 GHz) offer a performance edge over the X10’s Kryo 460 cores (2x2.0 GHz & 6x1.8 GHz). This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive gaming experience on the A52 5G. The 750G’s improved GPU will handle graphically demanding games with greater ease. While both support 5G, the 750G’s modem is generally more efficient.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 111 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G’s 25W wired charging capability, capable of reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes, provides a significant convenience advantage over the Nokia X10’s slower 18W charging. While both may last a full day on a single charge, the A52 5G allows for quicker top-ups when needed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nokia X10 if you prioritize a clean Android experience and are on a very tight budget, accepting compromises in performance and display quality. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G if you value a brighter, more vibrant display, faster processing speeds for gaming and multitasking, and quicker charging, even if it means a slightly higher upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 480 5G in the Nokia X10 powerful enough for demanding games like PUBG?
While the Snapdragon 480 5G supports 5G connectivity, its processing power is limited. PUBG may be playable at lower settings, but expect frame drops and a less-than-optimal experience. The Snapdragon 750G in the A52 5G is significantly better suited for gaming.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 750G is generally efficient, but prolonged gaming can lead to some thermal throttling. However, the A52 5G’s larger chassis and potentially better thermal management design help mitigate this issue compared to the more compact Nokia X10.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Nokia X10 and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G?
The Nokia X10 offers a near-stock Android experience, prioritizing simplicity and fast updates. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G runs Samsung’s One UI, which is feature-rich but can feel more cluttered and includes pre-installed apps (bloatware).
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Nokia X10 slow compared to other phones in this price range?
Yes, 18W charging is relatively slow compared to the 25W charging on the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and even some other competitors. Expect a significantly longer time to fully charge the Nokia X10.
